Improving conservation assessments of insect pollinators in Alaska. Targeted biodiversity assessments and robust abundance estimates in Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge

Project ID: F24AC01946

Federal Agency: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Partner Institution: University of Alaska Anchorage

Fiscal Year: 2024

Initial Funding: $92,000

Total Funding: $92,000

Principal Investigator: Carlson, Matthew

Agreement Technical Representative: Boldenow, Megan

Abstract: AN INCREASING NUMBER OF INSECT POLLINATOR SPECIES ARE IN DECLINE IN NORTH AMERICA. THIS DECLINE IS PROMPTING NUMEROUS PETITIONS FOR ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT LISTING THAT ARE INCREASINGLY PULLING ON ALASKA USFWS ECOLOGICAL SERVICES STAFF TIME. KNOWLEDGE OF ALASKAN POLLINATORS IS EXCEEDINGLY POOR RELATIVE TO OTHER STATES AND REGIONS. THERE IS INADEQUATE INFORMATION REGARDING SPECIES RICHNESS, SPECIES DISTRIBUTIONS, AND HABITAT AND FLORAL ASSOCIATIONS. BASELINE SURVEYS ARE MISSING FOR MUCH OF ALASKA, AND TARGETED SAMPLING CAN PROVIDE VALUABLE INFORMATION TO INFORM CONSERVATION STATUSES. IN A RECENT ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT ASSESSMENT FOR A BEE SPECIES, MUCH OF ALASKA, INCLUDING THE ALEUTIANS, WAS EXCLUDED DUE TO A LACK OF INFORMATION. RELIABLE ESTIMATES OF INSECT POLLINATOR ABUNDANCE AND DISTRIBUTION ARE LACKING AND HINDERING OUR ABILITY TO ASSESS TRENDS IN POPULATIONS OVER TIME. INSECT POLLINATORS ON THE ALEUTIAN ISLANDS FACE UNIQUE THREATS BECAUSE THEY DO NOT HAVE DISPERSAL CORRIDORS TO FOLLOW IN A RAPIDLY CHANGING CLIMATE, AND THUS ARE ESPECIALLY SUSCEPTIBLE TO CLIMATE CHANGE. THESE POLLINATORS FACE ADDITIONAL THREATS FROM INTRODUCED AND INVASIVE SPECIES (SUCH AS RATS, CATTLE, AND CARIBOU REINDEER), WHICH MAY BE NEGATIVELY IMPACTING NESTING HABITATS AND FORAGE SPECIES FOR BUTTERFLIES AND BEES. THE ALEUTIAN ISLAND AR